Adding a little mindfulness at bedtime can help children drift off into a peaceful sleep!

Bedtime is the perfect time to add a little mindfulness to your routine. After a long, tiring day for both parents and children, bedtime is often the thing that can connect and calm the family. Adding a little bit of time unwinding at the end of the day as a family can make drifting off to a peaceful sleep easier. Bedtime is the perfect opportunity for you to spend quality time with your children before going to sleep and starting the next day. Here are a few ways you can make the most out of that time.

Express Your Gratitude

Expressing your gratitude is very important and helps children be thankful for all they have. It also allows your children to see how grateful you are to have them as well. One easy way is to say three things you are grateful for. As a parent, you can say what you are grateful for about your child. After each thing, have your child say something expressing their gratitude. Stating things that both of you are grateful for shows compassion and allows your child to see the good in you that they can mirror. Focusing on the good helps connect the child to a peaceful energy.

Meditate Together

Meditating with your child at the end of a long day helps resolve any bad emotions. One way to meditate is to play an audio and listen together. This helps connect you and your child as you both calm and put aside any stresses from the day. Also, you can try walking them through breathing exercises to help nurture relaxation before sleeping. Slowly count down from 5 to 1, imagining yourself walking down a hill with each number imagine falling deeper into meditation and sleep.

Send Love from Your Heart

Sometimes children have a difficult time letting go of lost relatives or maybe even just someone who is away for a while. Children can oftentimes have separation anxiety about a parent or family member on a trip or even about an animal still being at home while they are away. You should let them know that they are still and always will be connected through their hearts to anyone who may be away or gone. Encourage them to send love from their heart to the other person or animal no matter how far away they are by closing their eyes and picturing that love being sent out.

Having a family-oriented bedtime to relax and unwind helps the whole family have a better sleep and better day the next day. Every parent is busy throughout the day, and that’s okay. As long as you take time at the end of the day with your child and make bedtime a special time, you can still keep your family close and happy. Try one of these bedtime rituals for yourself and see what a difference they make in your home and life.